Taiwan

Forty years after the signing of the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States’ and Taiwan’s democratic values continue to provide a foundation for security and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Today, the Taiwan Strait remains one of Asia’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints. Taiwan, facing diverse pressures from a rising China, continues to pursue means to defend its people, economy, and democracy in an increasingly complex strategic environment.

Kirchberger quoted in Financial Times: European show of support for US in Indopacific will remain limited

Dispatches Jan 27, 2026

Taiwan has been a strategic blind spot for South Korea

By Bee Yun Jo

South Korea is beginning to acknowledge that cross-Strait stability is increasingly a foundational element of overall regional security.
China Indo-Pacific
Kirchberger quoted in Financial Times: European show of support for US in Indopacific will remain limited

New Atlanticist Dec 18, 2025

Can US leaders convince Americans that Taiwan is worth fighting for?

By Phillip M. Ramirez

If elected leaders in the United States want to continue to deter Chinese military action, they must work to convince Beijing that Americans would be willing to fight for Taiwan.
China Conflict
Kirchberger quoted in Financial Times: European show of support for US in Indopacific will remain limited

Report Dec 15, 2025

Beijing pressures Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners. Here’s what the US should do in response

By Kitsch Liao, Nik Foster, Santiago Villa

Taiwan’s shrinking circle of diplomatic partners plays a crucial role in deterring Chinese coercion, and the United States needs a more targeted strategy to help preserve this support and maintain cross-strait stability.
China Politics & Diplomacy

Projects

Close up of tiger

The Tiger Project: War and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

Explore the Atlantic Council’s work on current and enduring defense and deterrence issues in the Indo-Pacific, featuring expert commentary, multimedia content, and in-depth analysis.

Explore the programs

The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing threat to the international order and North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear weapons advancements. IPSI produces innovative analysis, conducts tabletop exercises, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, other key private and public-sector stakeholders, and publics.

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Events

Public Event Thu, February 12, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

Congressman John Moolenaar on deterring aggression against Taiwan

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, discusses how the United States and Taiwan can strengthen deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.
China Defense Industry Defense Policy Indo-Pacific
Public Event Wed, January 28, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Taiwan’s critical role in global supply chains and the future of US-Taiwan ties
Economy & Business Energy & Environment Indo-Pacific Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Mon, December 15, 2025 • 2:30 pm ET

How the US and Taiwan can deter Chinese coercion by shoring up Taiwan’s partners
China Politics & Diplomacy Taiwan

Content

In the News

May 19, 2021

Kirchberger quoted in Financial Times: European show of support for US in Indopacific will remain limited

By Sarah Kirchberger

Sarah Kirchberger was quoted in the Financial Times on how the increased European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific reflects growing concerns over Chinese military activities in the region.

China European Union

In the News

May 3, 2021

Crouch in Defense News on Taiwan

By Atlantic Council

On May 3, Forward Defense Senior Military Fellow Lt Col Matthew Crouch wrote an op-ed for Defense News on ambiguity surrounding the US commitment to Taiwan. Crouch argued that China is testing boundaries with President Biden, aiming to see the extent to which he would defend Taiwan; this will necessitate a firm stance on the part of the new administration.

China Defense Policy

Blog Post

Apr 22, 2021

State of the Order: Assessing March 2021

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 19, 2021

Mark in Foreign Policy on Taiwan and China’s codependent economic relationship

By Jeremy Mark

Read the full article here.

China East Asia

Fast Thinking

Apr 16, 2021

FAST THINKING: Mr. Suga comes to Washington

By Atlantic Council

President Xi, are you watching? US President Joe Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to the White House on Friday. And his first in-person meeting with a foreign leader was designed to send a clear signal to China.

East Asia Japan

In the News

Apr 12, 2021

Drun and Beauchamp-Mustafaga in China Brief: Exploring Chinese military thinking on social media manipulation against Taiwan

By Atlantic Council

On April 12, 2021, Jessica Drun and Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga published an article in China Brief to provide evidence of PRC planning for covert manipulation of Taiwanese social media.

China Disinformation

In the News

Apr 6, 2021

Manning quoted in Newsweek: China’s bet US is bluffing on Taiwan war risks dangerous miscalculation

By Atlantic Council

On April 6, Robert Manning was quoted in an article in Newsweek entitled, “China’s Bet U.S. Is Bluffing on Taiwan War Risks Dangerous Miscalculation.” Manning argued that the least likely scenario is an invasion of Taiwan and urged policymakers to consider China’s interests and perceptions about US decline. “It seems all that now stands between […]

Politics & Diplomacy Taiwan

In the News

Apr 5, 2021

Drun interviewed by The Spectator

By Atlantic Council

On April 5, 2021, Jessica Drun was interviewed for The Spectator‘s “Chinese Whispers” podcast on the question “Why does China care about Taiwan?”

China Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Mar 30, 2021

Culver interviewed by Ryan Hass for the Brookings Institution: Understanding Beijing’s motives regarding Taiwan, America’s role

By Atlantic Council

On March 30, 2021, Global China Hub nonresident senior fellow John K. Culver was interviewed by Ryan Hass for the Brookings Institution, “Understanding Beijing’s motives regarding Taiwan, America’s role”. When discussing how the United States can most effectively signal support and reassurance to Taiwan, Culver said “Washington’s actions to enhance Taiwan’s freedom from Chinese coercion […]

China Politics & Diplomacy

Blog Post

Mar 29, 2021

Supply chains and semiconductors: The need for US diplomacy

By Jeremy Mark

Any effort to revitalize the US’s to domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity would be incomplete without diplomacy. US allies such as Taiwan and South Korea remain global leaders in semiconductor manufacturing. If the U.S. wants to rejoin them, the Biden administration should deepen investment ties with Taiwan and South Korea and find ways to bring them closer to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

China Defense Technologies
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Experts

Fellow

Chung-Yu Chou

Former Visiting Military Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Conflict

Fellow

Claire Chu

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese

Staff

Lauren D. Gilbert

Deputy Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

East Asia Human Rights

Staff

Melanie Hart

Senior Director, Global China Hub

Global China Hub

China Chinese

Fellow

Sarah Kirchberger

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Industry

Advisory Council member

Keith J. Krach

Member, Freedom and Prosperity Center Advisory Council

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Energy & Environment Taiwan
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